Obama Respects Bloomberg, but Endorses Thompson

MYFOXNY.COM/AP - The White House says President Barack Obama has tremendous respect for New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg but is supporting the Democrat running against him.

There have been questions about why Obama hasn't been involved in helping the city's comptroller, William Thompson Jr., in his uphill battle to unseat the billionaire mayor.

Thompson got a long-awaited -- if passionless -- answer Friday.

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said in response to a question that Obama is the leader of the Democratic party, "and as that, would support the Democratic nominee."

Gibbs did not mention Thompson by name. He did note Obama's high regard for Bloomberg, who is not registered with any party but is running on the Republican and Independence Party lines.

"Today represents a historic moment in our campaign to bring change to City Hall," Thompson said in a statement to supporters. "I am honored and proud to have received the support of the President of the United States, especially on the day that Barack Obama is named a Nobel Prize Winner. This is an incredible boost to our campaign, furthering the growing momentum that is building across the City."

The Bloomberg camp responded, pointing out that the White House did not criticize the mayor in the endorsement of his rival.

"We're not surprised that the President supported the nominee of his party. That's to be expected," Michael Levoff, a spokesman for the Bloomberg campaign, said in a statement. "As the White House said today, the Mayor and the President have had a good relationship and the Mayor looks forward to continuing to work closely with the President for the good of all New Yorkers on issues like health care, the economy and terrorism."